Tituss Burgess: “Des McAnuff is a visionary”

On February 5th began the previews of the new GUYS AND DOLLS revival, the musical by Frank Loesser that is back to Broadway 14 years after the last successful production that ran for three years.

Director Des McAnuff and choreographer Sergio Trujillo, the same team that achieved a great success with JERSEY BOYS, work together again in this innovative new production of the musical.
 
Alongside the four main characters of the story -who are played by Oliver Platt (Nathan Detroit), Lauren Graham (Adelaide), Craig Bierko (Sky Masterson) y Kate Jennings Grant (Sarah Brown)- is the sympathetic character of Nicely-Nicely Johnson. This role is played by Tituss Burgess. The performer from Georgia left the production of THE LITTLE MERMAID, where he played the role of Sebastian, to bring to life  this character that was played by Stubby Kaye in the original Broadway production.
 
Tituss Burgess talks about his participation on this new GUYS AND DOLLS revival.

HOW DID YOU LIVE THE OPENING NIGHT OF ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’?
It was a real Joy. We had all worked so hard so it was nice to finally so that night become a reality!

WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST OF PERFORMING NICELY-NICELY JOHNSON AND OF BEING PART OF THIS REVIVAL?
Here we have a rare example of ignorance being bliss and in this case, freedom! I had no knowledge of what this show was about. I only knew that it was wildly popular and everyone loved the score. I knew a few tunes but that was it. I can´t say what makes mine different because I have nothing to compare it to. I didn´t watch the movie and I´ve never seen a production of it. There are men from my community, back home in Georgia, that possess the qualities of Nicely Nicely. There isn´t a whole lot to it. When you ask how he is he says nicely nicely and he MEANS it. That informed the entire piece for me. His only worry is where is the next meal coming from and how to make a quick buck. In that order.

ONE OF THE MOST ACCLAIMED NUMBERS OF ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ IS “SIT DOWN, YOU’RE ROCKING THE BOAT”, A SONG THAT IS PERFORMED BY YOUR CHARACTER. IS IT ALSO ONE OF YOUR FAVOURITES SCENES?
It’s such a treat to be in the background for most of the show and then to get to sing this song at the end of the show. It kinda comes out of no where. I love it.

‘GUYS AND DOLLS´ HAS BEEN DIRECTED BY DES McANUFF AND SERGIO TRUJILLO IS THE CHOREOGRAPHER. YOU ALSO WORKED WITH BOTH OF THEM IN JERSEY BOYS. WHAT COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT THEM?
Des is a visionary. He will stop at nothing to see the vision executed properly. He is extremely well informed and is not afraid of bringing to the stage his most ambitious concepts.  He is at the top of his game. Sergio is one of the hardest working men in showbiz. He wont quit until its right. I love that about him!

McANUFF HAS INTRODUCED A NEW CHARACTER IN THIS REVIVAL: DAMON RUNYON. WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS CHARACTER?
He wanted to get back to the source. The reason this show exists and its because of this man Damon Runyon that the creators even had these stories to build on. He wanted to give Damon a voice…

IT SEEMS THAT ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ HAVE RECEIVED MIXED REVIEWS. WHAT DO YOU THINK OF PRESS REVIEWS? DO YOU THINK PEPLE ARE INFLUENCED BY THEM?
Who doesn’t want good reviews? We all do. But sometimes some people miss the point. At the end of the day will tourist see GUYS ANS DOLLS or ‘God of Carnage’?  I will let you answer that!

‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ IS THE FIRST SHOW PERFORMED IN NEDERLANDER THEATRE AFTER ‘RENT’. HOW DO YOU FEEL PERFORMING IN THIS THEATRE?
Its such an intimate space. I love it. Its an honor to be in a theatre with so much history.

Spencer Moses as Rusty Charley, Tituss Burgess as Nicely-Nicely Johnson and Steven Rosen as Benny Southstreet

PRIOR TO ‘GUYS AND DOLLS’ YOU WERE PERFORMING SEBASTIAN IN ‘THE LITTLE MERMAID’. WHAT DID IT MEANT TO YOU PERFORMING IN THIS NEW DISNEY MUSICAL?
I love starring in THE LITTLE MERMAID as Sebastian. It’s a character beloved by all. It was charmed time in my life!

IS IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DECIDE CHANGING OF PRODUCTION, PASSING THROUGH ONE SHOW TO ANOTHER?
Sometimes it can be tricky. I basically examine my career and where it needs to go. It sort of decides for me!

YOU ALSO WERE ON THE ORIGINAL CAST OF ‘JERSEY BOYS‘. COULD YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE ON THIS SUCCESSFUL MUSICAL?
JERSEY BOYS was overwhelming. I was still very young in the business and sort of sat quietly in the corner taking notes, listening and watching. I didnt know how huge it was until I left.

YOU’VE WORKED WITH YOUNG COMPOSERS AS JASON ROBERT BROWN OR SCOTT ALAN. WHAT DO YOU LIKE MOST OF THEM?
Its always a treat to work with emerging composers like Scott and Tony Award winners like Jason. They have both become friends of mine. Jason’s mind is brilliant and Scott writes straight from the heart.

DO YOU THINK THAT IT IS IMPORTANT FOR PERFORMERS TO SUPPORT NEW COMPOSERS?
OF COURSE. If we don’t we will run out of material to sing!

YOU HAVE RELEASE A CD SOLO ALBUM, "HERE´S TO YOU", A R&B ALBUM. YOU HAVE ALSO WRITTEN MUSIC FOR OTHER PEOPLE. WHAT MUSIC STYLES DO YOU LIKE THE MOST? ARE YOU PLANNING TO RELEASE A SECOND SOLO ALBUM IN THE FUTURE?
I do plan to release another album. I don’t have one style I prefer over the other. Its basically what comes up comes out. I don’t set out to write any one thing.